International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2025, Vol.15, No.2, 83-90 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmec 85 contains 18 genes, among which 5 genes are candidate genes discovered after tissue studies and transcriptome sequencing (Tiwari et al., 2021). Other genes related to hormones, sugar utilization, transcriptional regulation and cell wall changes are also associated with tuber shape. 3.3 Correlation analysis between genotypes and tuber shape phenotypes Links between genotypes and tuber shapes have shown clear results. The CAPS marker C6-58.27_665, tied to the TScha6 QTL on chromosome 6, is strongly linked with the tuber length/width ratio (r = 0.55, p < 0.01). QTLs on chromosome 10 also show consistent ties with tuber shape, both in visual ratings and in ratio measures. These findings support the use of marker-assisted selection in potato breeding to improve shape traits. 3.4 Influence of polyploid genome characteristics on genetic regulation The potato is polyploid, which makes genetic control more complex. Each locus of tetraploid has multiple alleles, which makes genetic and QTL mapping more difficult (Park et al., 2024). Even so, new molecular markers and advanced polyploid tools make the discovery of key QTLS and genomic breeding worth estimating. These methods help breeders select better clones earlier and choose tuber shapes more effectively. 4 Impact of Environmental Factors on Tuber Shape 4.1 Regulation of tuber development by temperature and water availability Temperature and water are key factors for tuber growth and shape. High temperature often changes important growth pathways and slows tuber development. For example, the FT homolog StSP6A is blocked under high heat, which affects both the early and late stages of tuber growth (Park et al., 2020). In the swelling stage, even a small rise in temperature can lower yield and quality. A steady water supply can ease part of this effect. But even with enough irrigation, yield still falls when the heat is high. This shows that water is very important for keeping tuber size and shape (Huntenburg et al., 2021). When water is lacking, more tubers grow in a deformed way. Stable water supply is therefore essential. 4.2 Correlation between soil structure, nutrient levels, and tuber shape Soil type and nutrients can also significantly affect the shape of tubers. Dry and hard soil can slow down root growth, limit water supply, thereby altering the growth of buds and causing uneven tuber morphology. Soil compaction and water shortage can reduce the final yield and change the size distribution of tubers, usually resulting in an increase in the number of tubers but smaller ones (Musse et al., 2024). The position of the tuber in the soil is also very important, as the water flow between the mother plant and the tuber during the leaf drying process will change the growth pattern of the tuber (Gonzales et al., 2020) (Figure 1). Planting density and watering methods can also change the traits of tubers. In the early stage of tuber growth, a colder and wetter environment will make the tubers longer, heavier, and produce more buds and buds. Figure 1 Association of reduced biomass under complete ground cover and tuber yield per hectare (Adopted from Huntenburg et al., 2021)
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